Compact disk labeling systems

ABSTRACT

Compact disk labeling systems for use in applying a compact disk label to a compact disk. One embodiment includes a compact disk case with a base and a rotatable lid that rotates about a hinge. A central spindle protrudes from a surface of the base that holds the compact disk by means of its central hole. A label hub protrudes from a surface of the lid. A flexible foam disk may be attached to an interior surface of the lid that is disposed around the label hub. Another embodiment includes a base having a generally flat upper surface. A central spindle protrudes slightly above the upper surface of the base that holds the compact disk by means of its central hole. A rotatable lid is attached to the base by means of a hinge and has a generally flat surface  23  with an inner tab section and an outer section that flex relative to each other. A cylindrically-shaped compact disk label hub protrudes from the inner tab section to hold the adhesive label.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to compact disk labeling systemsfor use in applying an adhesive label to a non-readable surface of acompact disk.

A number of patents have been issued relating to compact disk labelingsystems for applying compact disk labels. These include U.S. Pat. No.5,421,950, U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,033, U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,031, U.S. Pat.No. 5,902,446, and European Patent No. 0855713.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,950 discloses an applicator tool for adhering agummed label to a circular disk in concentric alignment with a centerhole through the disk. The applicator tool has a blade portion and ahandle portion. An alignment hub having a raised circular shoulder isdisposed on one side of the blade portion and a projecting hub isdisposed on the other blade surface. The shoulder and hub are alignedalong an axis and the hub and are sized for insertion into the diskcenter hole.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,033 discloses a compact disc labeling device formanually applying a label to a compact disc. The device includes anassembly having a circumferential flange with an upper flange surface, apiston, a first rod having a diameter approximately equal to thediameter of the label's central aperture and that extends from the uppersurface of the piston, and a second rod having a diameter approximatelyequal to the diameter of the disc's central aperture and that extendsfrom the first rod. In use, a label is placed on the flange with thefirst rod projecting through its central aperture and the discpositioned on the second rod through its central aperture. When thepiston is moved from an upper first position to a lower second position,the disc is applied to the label.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,031 discloses a device and a process for applying alabel to a compact disk. The device is comprised of a two-level basewith a post in the center of the base. A compact disc is slipped overthe post and rests on the upper level of the base. A cap is then placedover the post which allows an annular paper label to be centered on thedisc.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,446 discloses a labeler for manually placingself-adhesive labels onto compact disks. The labeler has a positioningcone with an elongated stock member, a flat surface with a diametergreater than that of the elongated stock member, and a point on an endof the positioning cone opposed from the elongated stock member. Thelabeler also has a positioning plate with a positioning hole in thecenter, a surface area upon which a self-adhesive label can be placedand a side area to add strength to the positioning plate. The labelerfurther has a cylindrical base with a flat lip member upon which thepositioning plate can rest substantially flat, a flat bottom to keep thecylindrical base substantially flat when used on a substantially flatsurface, a wall to keep the flat lip member lifted substantially off ofthe substantially flat surface and a hollow cavern into which asubstantial portion of the positioning cone can fit.

European Patent No. 0855713 discloses a device having a sleeve with areception element for the compact disc. A fixing element positions thecompact disc and a cover element which is pivoted to the receptionelement and provided with a carrier element for a label on its inside.The carrier element has an adhesive layer for temporarily securing thelabel and is secured to the inside of the cover element via an adhesionelement, with transfer of the label to the surface of the compact disc,upon closure of the sleeve.

The device disclosed in European Patent No. 0855713 has a sticky surfacethat holds the label prior to contact with the CD. The label is placedby hand around a target circle to locate the label, and the stickysurface holds the label, and then the lid is closed to apply the labelto the CD. The is no central hub that holds the label, and there is noconcentric foam disk in the device disclosed in European Patent No.0855713.

Companies by the name of Stomper and Press-it market almost identicallabel applicators, and these applicators function in a manner similar tothe device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,446, although they are madedifferently. The Stomper and Press-it devices have a base with a surfacethat holds an adhesive-backed label with the adhesive surface facingupward. A spring loaded central alignment member has a larger diameterlower portion, whose diameter matches that of the label. An upperportion has a smaller diameter that matches the diameter of the openingin the CD. The CD is placed over the upper portion and rests on a shelf(or shoulder region per U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,446) formed between theupper and lower portions of the alignment member. The CD is presseddownward against the tension of the spring, forcing the alignment memberdownward until the CD contacts the adhesive surface of the label.

Dynosys AG markets a Labeller™ CD labeling system. This system has abottom casing (or base) containing a centered depressible knob referredto as a movable swimming centering knob. A lid that closes on the bottomcasing contains a CD hub and a depressible button that moves the hub andCD towards the bottom casing. A label is placed in the casing bottom,and the movable swimming centering knob automatically aligns with thetop centering core when the lid is closed. This aligns the label withthe CD. When the lid is closed on the bottom casing and the depressiblebutton in the center of the lid is pressed, the CD-ROM is lowered ontothe aligned label disposed in the bottom casing. The movable swimmingcentering knob in the bottom casing is moved below the label when thedepressible button in the center of the lid is pressed to contact the CDwith the label.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide for improvedcompact disk labeling systems for use in applying an adhesive label to areadable surface of a compact disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To accomplish the above and other objectives, the present inventionprovides for compact disk labeling systems that easily apply an adhesivelabel to a readable surface of a compact disk (CD). One embodiment ofthe compact disk labeling system is a device that comprises a standardCD jewel case having a base and a lid. A plastic insert is secured tothe base and includes a central spindle that holds the CD by means ofits central hole. The plastic insert has a circular depressed area inwhich CD sits when secured by the central spindle. A CD label hub and aconcentric foam disk are attached to the lid of the CD jewel case. TheCD label hub has a central opening into which the central spindle sitswhen the lid is closed. The central opening in the CD label hub islarger in diameter than the central spindle and there is no contactbetween them. The CD label hub is sized so that the central opening ofthe CD label is secured by it.

To operate the device, a CD is secured in the plastic insert with itscentral hole secured by the spindle. A CD label is pressed over the CDlabel hub so that its back side touches the concentric foam disk and itsadhesive surface is exposed. The lid is closed, and the concentric foamdisk presses the adhesive surface of the CD label onto the surface ofthe CD, thus securing the label to the CD.

Another embodiment of the compact disk labeling system is a device thatcomprises a base and a rotatable lid attached to the base by means of aliving hinge or other flexible member. The lid is substantially flat andhas a U-shaped slot extending away from the hinge that forms a “U”around the center of the lid. By virtue of the U-shaped slot, the lidhas an inner elongated tab section and an outer U-shaped section. A thinwalled cylindrically-shaped CD label hub with a portion of the wallremoved extends away from the surface of the U-shaped flexible memberinto the interior of the device when the lid is closed on the base. A CDlabel is held by the CD label hub against the U-shaped section with itsprinted side lying against the surface of the lid and adhesive surfaceexposed.

The base has a substantially flat upper surface that has edgewalls thatextend away from the upper surface to create a cavity below the devicewhen it sits on a flat surface. The upper surface has a central circularopening that generally aligns with the CD label hub when the when thelid is closed on the base. A portion of the upper surface is formed as atab that extends into the center of the central circular opening. Aspindle that holds a compact disk is formed as part of the tab and isaligned with the center of the cylindrically-shaped hub.

The cylindrically-shaped hub extending from the U-shaped elongated tabsection is sized to pass into the central circular opening when the lidis closed on the base for storage purposes. The tab fits in the removedportion of the cylindrically-shaped hub when the lid is closed on thebase for storage purposes.

To operate the device, a CD is disposed on the base with its centralhole secured by the spindle. A CD label is pressed over the CD label hubso that its printed side lies against the surface of the lid and itsadhesive surface is exposed. The lid is closed so that the CD label hubtouches the center of the CD. The outer U-shaped section of the lid isthen fully closed on the base to press the adhesive surface of the CDlabel onto the surface of the CD, thus securing the label to the CD.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the present invention may be morereadily understood with reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate various views and operation of a first exemplaryembodiment of a compact disk labeling system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate various views and operation of second and thirdexemplary embodiments of a compact disk labeling system in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing figures, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate various views andoperation of a first exemplary compact disk labeling system 10 inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows anopen labeling system 10 and a compact disk (CD) 24 and CD label 26 thatare used with it. FIG. 2 shows the compact disk 24 and CD label 26disposed in the labeling system 10. FIG. 3 shows closing of the labelingsystem 10. FIG. 4 shows the labeling system 10 in a closed conditionwhere the CD label 26 is secured to the compact disk 24. FIG. 5 showsremoval of the labeled CD 14 from the labeling system 10.

Referring to FIG. 1, the first exemplary compact disk labeling system 10may comprise a case 11, such as a standard compact disk jewel case 11having a base 12 and a rotatable lid 15. The lid 15 rotates about ahinge 17 at one end of the base 12 to close on the base 12. A plasticinsert 13 is secured to the base 12 and includes a central spindle 14that holds the compact disk 24 by means of its central hole 25 which isinserted over the spindle 14 (shown in FIG. 2). The plastic insert 13has a circular depressed area 16 or recess 16 in which compact disk 24sits when secured by the spindle 14.

A CD label hub 21 and a concentric foam disk 23, or other flexiblemember 23, are attached to an interior surface of the lid 12 of the CDjewel case 11. The concentric flexible member 23 or foam disk 23 is usedto hold the CD label 26 so that it is at an appropriate distancerelative to the compact disk 24 when the lid 15 is closed on the base.The CD label hub 21 has a central opening 22 into which the spindle 14sits when the lid 15 is closed to mate with the base 12. The centralopening 22 in the CD label hub 21 is larger in diameter than the spindle14 and there is no contact between them. The CD label hub 21 is sized sothat the central opening 27 of the CD label 26 is secured by it (shownin FIG. 2).

To operate the device 10, and referring to FIG. 2, a compact disk 24 issecured in the plastic insert 13 with its central hole 25 secured by thespindle 14. A CD label 26 is pressed over the CD label hub 21 so thatits back side touches the concentric foam disk 23 and its adhesivesurface 28 is exposed. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lid 15 is closed,and the concentric foam disk 23 presses the adhesive surface 28 of theCD label 26 onto the surface of the compact disk 24, thus securing thelabel 26 to the compact disk 24. The lid 15 is pressed against the base12 by applying hand pressure, for example, illustrated by the arrows inFIG. 4. The jewel case 11 is then opened and the labeled compact disk 26is removed, as is illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate various views and operation of second and thirdexemplary embodiments of compact disk labeling systems 10 in accordancewith the principles of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an opensecond embodiment of the labeling system 10 and a compact disk (CD) 24and CD label 26 that are used with it. FIG. 7 shows a third embodimentof the system 10 with the compact disk 24 and CD label 26 disposed inthe labeling system 10 along with closing of the labeling system 10.FIG. 8 shows either of the labeling systems 10 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 ina closed condition where the CD label 26 is secured to the compact disk24.

The second embodiment of the compact disk labeling system 10 comprises abase 12 and a rotatable lid 15 attached to the base 12 by means of aliving hinge 17 or other flexible or hinge member 17, for example., Thelid 15 has a substantially flat surface 23 and has a U-shaped slot 31extending away from the hinge 17. However, it is to be understood thatthe slot may be disposed in any direction, such as is illustrated by thedashed slot extending toward the upper left of the lid 15. Furthermore,the may have any form and is not limited to a U shape. The slot 31 formsan inner elongated tab section 32 and an outer section 34. A thin walledcylindrically-shaped CD label hub 21 having a portion 33 of its wallremoved extends away from the surface of the inner elongated tab section32 toward the base 12 when the lid 15 is closed on the base 12. A CDlabel 26 is held by the CD label hub 21 and inner elongated tab section32 with its printed side lying against the surface 23 of the lid 15 andadhesive surface 28 exposed.

The base 12 has a substantially flat upper surface 13 and edgewalls 35that extend away from the upper surface 13 to create a cavity under thebase 12 when it sits on a flat surface. The upper surface 13 has acentral circular opening 35 that aligns with the CD label hub 21 of thedepressible member when the lid 15 is closed on the base 12. In thesecond embodiment of the system 10, a portion of the upper surface 13 ofthe base 12 is formed as a tab 36 that extends into the center of thecentral circular opening 35. A spindle 14 that holds a compact disk 24is formed as part of the tab 36 and is aligned with the center of thecylindrically-shaped hub 21.

The CD label hub 21 extending from the inner elongated tab section 32 issized to pass into the central circular opening 35 when the lid 15 isclosed on the base 12 for storage purposes. The tab 36 of the base 12fits in the removed portion 33 of the CD label hub 21 when the lid 15 isclosed on the base 12 for storage purposes.

Referring to FIG. 7, it shows a third exemplary embodiment of a compactdisk labeling system 10. In the third embodiment of the system 10, thecylindrically-shaped CD label hub 21 does not have any part of its wallremoved and is hence fully cylindrical. Also, the central circularopening 35 is molded into the base and the spindle 14 protrudes from thecenter of the opening 35 to a distance that is slightly above the uppersurface 13 of the base 12 to hold the compact disk 24.

To operate the compact disk labeling systems 10 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,a compact disk 24 is disposed on the base 12 with its central hole 25secured by the spindle 14. A CD label 26 is pressed over the CD labelhub 21 so that its printed side lies against the flat surface 23 of thelid 15 and its adhesive surface 28 is exposed. The lid 15 is closed(illustrated by the curved arrow in FIG. 7) so that the CD label hub 21touches the center of the compact disk 24 (illustrated in FIG. 8). Theouter section 34 of the lid 15 is then fully closed on the base 12(illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 8) to press the adhesive surface 28of the CD label 26 onto the surface 23 of the compact disk 24, thussecuring the label 26 to the compact disk 24. The labeled compact disk24 is removed from the device 10 in a manner described with reference toFIG. 5.

The three embodiments of the compact disk labeling system 10 may bepreferably molded as a single plastic component having the base 12 andlid 15 secured by means of a living hinge 17. In the first embodiment ofthe compact disk labeling system 10 the base 12, spindle 14, hinge 17,rotatable lid 15, label hub 21 and flexible member 23 may also be moldedas single plastic component, with the flexible member 23 formed as arelatively thin walled portion whose thickness makes it flexiblerelative to the remainder of the lid 15.

Thus, improved compact disk labeling systems have been disclosed. It isto be understood that the above-described embodiments are merelyillustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that representapplications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly,numerous and other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilledin the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compact disk labeling system for use inapplying an adhesive label to a compact disk, comprising: a compact diskcase having a base and a rotatable lid that rotates about a hinge at oneend of the base; a central spindle protruding from an interior surfaceof the base for holding the compact disk by means of its central hole; alabel hub protruding from an interior surface of the lid for holding theadhesive label during application of the adhesive label to the compactdisk, and a flexible member attached to an interior surface of the lidthat is concentrically disposed around the label hub.
 2. The systemrecited in claim 1 wherein the flexible member comprises a foam diskattached to an interior surface of the lid that is concentricallydisposed around the label hub.
 3. The system recited in claim 1 whereinthe central spindle comprises a plastic insert having a circular recessin which compact disk sits when secured by the spindle.
 4. The systemrecited in claim 1 wherein the label hub has a central opening intowhich the spindle sits when the lid is closed to mate with the base. 5.The system recited in claim 1 wherein the central opening in the labelhub is larger in diameter than the spindle and there is no contactbetween them.
 6. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the label hub issized so that the central opening of the compact disk label is securedby it.
 7. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a plasticinsert secured to the base that includes the central spindle.
 8. Acompact disk labeling system for use in applying an adhesive label to acompact disk having a central hole, comprising: a base having agenerally flat upper surface with a central opening; a central spindleformed in the base that protrudes slightly above the upper surface ofthe base for holding the compact risk by means of its central hole; arotatable lid attached to the base by means of a hinge that has agenerally flat surface of with an inner tab section and an outer sectionthat are flexible relative to each other; and a cylindrically-shapedcompact disk label hub that protrudes from the inner tab section andwhich holds the adhesive label; and wherein the central opening alignswith the compact disk label hub potruding from the inner elongated tabsection when the lid is closed on the base.
 9. The system recited inclaim 8 wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.
 10. The systemrecited in claim 8 wherein a portion of the upper surface of the base isformed as a tab that extends into the center of the central opening andthe spindle is formed as part of the tab and is aligned with the centerof the cylindrically-shaped compact disk label hub.
 11. The systemrecited in claim 10 wherein the cylindrically-shaped compact disk labelhub extends from the inner tab section and is sized to pass into thecentral opening when the lid is closed on the base for storage purposes.12. The system recited in claim 10 wherein the cylindrically-shapedcompact disk label hub has a portion of its wall removed.
 13. The systemrecited in claim 12 wherein the tab fits in the removed portion of thecompact disk label hub when the lid is closed on the base.
 14. Thesystem recited in claim 8 which is molded as a single component.
 15. Thesystem recited in claim 14 which is a single molded plastic component.